Part 16 (1/2)
The Hind replied, ”Child, how lucky it is that you have come away! You must know the Tiger is the most deadly enemy we have in the woods.”
At these words the Fawn drew near to his dam and trembled.
The Hind said: ”_It is indeed lucky to get away from the wicked at the first hint!_”
The Fox and the Villagers
A Fox that had long been the dread of the village poultry yard was one day found lying breathless in a field. The report went abroad that, after all, he had been caught and killed by some one. In a moment, everybody in the village came out to see the dead Fox. The village c.o.c.k, with all his hens and chicks, was also there, to enjoy the sight.
The Fox then got up, and, shaking off his drowsiness, said: ”I ate a number of hens and chicks last night; hence I must have slumbered longer than usual.”
The c.o.c.k counted his hens and chicks, and found a number wanting.
”Alas!” said he, ”how is it I did not know of it?”
”My dear sir,” said the Fox, as he retreated to the wood, ”it was last night I had a good meal on your hens and chicks, yet you did not know of it. A moment ago they found me lying in the field, and you knew of it at once. _Ill news travels fast!_”
Tinsel and Lightning
A piece of Tinsel on a rock once said to a Pebble: ”You see how bright I am! I am by birth related to the lightning.”
”Indeed!” said the Pebble; ”then accept my humble respects.”
Some time after, a flash of lightning struck the rock, and the Tinsel lost all its brilliancy by the scorching effects of the flash.
”Where is your brilliancy now?” said the Pebble.
”Oh, it is gone to the skies,” said the Tinsel, ”for I have lent it to the lightning that came down a moment ago to borrow it of me.”
”Dear me!” said the Pebble; ”_how many fibs doth good bragging need!_”
The Glow-worm and the Daw
A Jackdaw once ran up to a Glow-worm and was about to seize him. ”Wait a moment, good friend,” said the Worm; ”and you shall hear of something to your advantage.”
”Ah! what is it?” said the Daw.
”I am but one of the many Glow-worms that live in this forest. If you wish to have them all, follow me,” said the Glow-worm.
”Certainly!” said the Daw.
Then the Glow-worm led him to a place in the wood where a fire had been kindled by some woodmen, and pointing to the sparks flying about, said: ”There you find the Glow-worms warming themselves around a fire. When you have done with them, I will show you some more, at a distance from this place.”
The Daw darted at the sparks, and tried to swallow some of them; but his mouth being burnt by the attempt, he ran away exclaiming, ”Ah, the Glow-worm is a dangerous little creature!”